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Drumstick with Raw Mango...

I don't like drumsticks (though I love the 'thoran' or stir fry we make with drumstick leaves)! But my hubby can have this vegetable in any shape or form which is the only reason why you would see this in my kitchen pantry. Having said that I do like the fact that there is no need of any fancy recipes to cook drumsticks. Drumsticks have such a lovely flavour of their own. I guess people who love it wouldn't mind having it just steamed! It takes barely few minutes to get cooked which is again a good thing.

But is that all? Nope! From the root to the seed, almost every part of the drumstick tree has got some medicinal value! This vegetable looks so frail - the name drumstick is apt; you would be surprised at the numerous benefits it offers. Drumstick trees are a common sight in Kerala. You can see these tall slender trees, with the even thinner drumsticks drooping from the branches, in the back yards of most houses. The drumsticks we use for cooking are the immature pods and are known for their nutrition content. High in Vitamin C, iron and minerals, enhancing bone strength, curbing digestive disorders, purifying the bloodstream, healing respiratory disorders are just few of the many benefits. An additional note to all the ladies - mixing drumstick juice with lemon juice and applying it on the face apparently makes your skin glowing along with treating pimples and blackheads :D

The below table from Lifestyle.iloveindia.com should give you a fair idea: read more of their article here.

Nutrients

Pods

Leaves

Basic Components

Protein

2.5 g

6.7 g

Carbohydrates

3.7 g

13.4 g

Water

86.9%

75.0%

Calorie

26

92

Fiber

4.8 g

0.9 g

Fat

0.1 g

1.7 g

Vitamins

Vitamin A

0.11 mg

6.8 mg

Vitamin B (choline)

423 mg

423 mg

Vitamin B1 (thiamin)

0.05 mg

0.21 mg

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

0.07 mg

0.05 mg

Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid)

0.2 mg

0.8 mg

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

120 mg

220 mg

Minerals

Calcium

30 mg

440 mg

Magnesium

24 mg

24 mg

Phosphorus

259 mg

259 mg

Potassium

110 mg

70 mg

Copper

3.1 mg

1.1 mg

Iron

5.3 mg

7 mg

Sulphur

137 mg

137 mg

This is a very easy recipe which I have adapted from my mom's recipe for drumstick and mango curry. Goes well with steamed rice and my hubby loves it. Do give it a try.

Drumstick and Raw Mango: Recipe

Ingredients:

Fresh drumsticks - 3 or 4

Raw green mango - 1 small, peeled, de-stoned and diced.

Shallots - 4 or 5 finely sliced or crushed in a mortar & pestle

Green chillies - 2 slit (add more if you like it spicier)

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Red chilli powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Mustard seeds - 3/4 tsp

Curry leaves - one sprig

Dry red chilli - 3 to 4

Method:

Scrape the outer skin of the drumstick using a knife and wash well. Cut them into roughly 1" sizes. Further cut each piece into half lengthwise.

In a pan, add the drumsticks pieces, raw mango, green chillies and the shallots. Add very little water - less than 1/4 cup; and mix in the salt, turmeric and red chilli powder. Cover the pan and cook till the drumsticks are cooked to your liking. The raw mango should also be mushy. (It doesn't take a lot of time so be sure to keep an eye on it and stir it. If you think it is sticking at the bottom, add a bit more water.)

Once the drumsticks are cooked, check the salt and adjust to taste.

Heat oil in a small pan and add the mustard seeds. When they start to splutter, add the dry red chilli and the curry leaves. Fry for few seconds and pour this over the cooked drumstick - mango mixture. Serve hot with steamed rice.